Direction sensing speed responsive switch



March 9, 1965 e. G. GDOVICHIN ETAL 3,172,973

DIRECTION SENSING SPEED RESPONSIVE SWITCH Filed Feb. 28, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 2

06 um 24 22. l6

George 6. 6d0vic/1in John D. Berezansky INVENTORS March 1965 G. G.GDOVICHIN ETAL 3,172,973

DIRECTION SENSING SPEED RESPQNSIVE SWITCH Filed Feb. 28, 1962 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4

George 6. Gaov/c/u'n John D. Berezansky IN VENTORS MM FM United StatesPatent 3,172,973 DIRECTION SENSHNG SPEED RESPQNSlVE SWITCH George G.'Gdevichin, Ehenshurg, and .lohn D. Berezanslry, Mineral Point, Pa,assignors to lab Company, Inc, Ehensburg, Pin, a corporation ofPennsylvania Filed Feb. 28, 1962, Ser. No. 176,334 9 Claims. ((31.MiG-80) This invention relates to a speed responsive switch assembly.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugallyoperated switch construction capable of being conditioned and adjustedfor use in a variety of different installations by virtue of a novelstructural arrangement.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a centrifugallyoperated speed responsive switch assembly that may be adjustablyconditioned for operation in either rotational direction of a poweredshaft or rendered operative in only one rotational direction.

In accordance with the foregoing objects, the speed responsive switchassembly of the present invention involves a rotationally powered shaftpivotally mounting weighted elements for displacing a slide actuatordisposed within a hollow portion of the shaft, which slide actuator isbiased to one position by means of an adjust ably biased springmechanism. The slide actuator is connected through slots in the hollowportion of the shaft to a sleeve on which an annular bearing member isrotatably mounted. The annular member is therefore axially displaced bythe shaft mounted slide member in response to either direction ofrotation of the shaft because of the centrifugal forces acting on thepivotally mounted weight members that displace the shaft mounted slidemember against its spring bias. The annular bearing member engages ahinged switch contact member that straddles the shaft so that the switchcontact member when displaced may engage fixed contacts for switchclosing purposes. The annular bearing member is however restrictedrotationally by selectively adjustable direction sensing limit meanswhereby the annular bearing member may be rendered inoperative inresponse to rotation of the shaft in one direction or the other so as toprevent the switch assembly from closing the switch contacts whenrotated in one direction or the other. Alternatively, the switchassembly may be conditioned for operation in either rotational directionof the shaft member.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the switch assembly enclosed withinits housing.

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the switch assembly with the top lid ofthe housing removed.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 3-3 in FIG- URE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially through a planeindicated by section line 44 in PEG- URE 3.

FTGURE 5 are schematic diagrams illustrating operation of the adjustablelimit means whereby the switch assembly may be rendered inoperative inone direction of rotation of the shaft.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be observed that theswitch assembly generally referred to Patented Mar. 9, 1965 by referencenumeral ill is housed within a housing on stationary frame generallyreferred to by reference numeral 12 including side Walls 14, end walls16, a top lid l8 and a base member 2%. The end walls 16 have connectedthereto bearing assemblies 22 which journal there within a shaft membergenerally referred to by reference numeral 24. The shaft memberprojecting from the bearings 22 at one end may therefore be pro videdwith any suitable connecting means such as the keyway 2:6 by means ofwhich a rotationally powered member may be connected to the shaft memberfor imparting rotation thereto.

Referring now to FlGURE 4 in particular, it will be observed that theshaft member 24 includes an intermediate tubular portion 28 disposedwithin the housing 12-, said tubular portion including an initiallythreaded portion 3t projecting from the housing at the end thereofopposite the keyway 26. Diametrically disposed slots 32 are formedwithin the hollow shaft portion 28 through which a pin 34 extends. Thepin 34 is connected to a speed sensing slide element 36 that is slidablymounted within the shaft portion 23 and is biased toward one position bymeans of a spring element 38. The spring element therefore reactsbetween the slide elem nt 36 and an adjustable screw element 4dmaintained in an axially adjusted position by means of a setscrew 42which may be loosened so that the screw element 46 may be axiallyadjusted through its slotted end 44 to change the compression of thespring element 58. The spring element therefore biases the slide element36 into engagement with the radially inwardly projecting arm 46 of apair of lever elements 48 pivotally mounted by pins ill on a member '52fixed to the shaft 24 for rotation therewith. Adjustably positioned onthe lever elements 48 by means of setscrews 54, are weight members 56.Rotation of the shaft member 24 will accordingly develop centrifugalforces on the weight members 56 causing pivotal displacement of thelever elements 48 from the solid line position illustrated in FIGURE 4to the dotted line position illustrated in FIGURE 4. As a resultthereof, the slide element 36 engaged by the arms 46, will be axiallydisplaced against the bias of the spring 33. The pin member 34 willtherefore axially displace a sleeve member 53 that is axially slidableon the shaft member 24 and rotatable therewith.

The sleeve member 53 constitutes part of a switch actuating bearingassembly generally referred to by reference numeral M). The bearingassembly oil includes an axial thrust bearing 62 by means of which anannular member 64 is rotatably mounted. As will hereafter be explained,the annular member 64 is adapted to be restricted both in rotational andaxial movement. However, the annular member 64 under certain conditionsis axially displaceable by the sleeve member 53 through the thrustbearing 62 so as to also axially displace a resilient bumper member 66carried on the shaft member. The bumper member in turn engages a movableswitch contact member generally referred to by reference numeral 68.

Referring now to FIGURES 2, 3 and 4 in particular, it will be observedthat the switch contact member 68 includes a plate member 7t}! having acutout portion 72 so that the switch plate Til may straddle the shaftportion 28. A hinge pin 74 is mounted adjacent the base portion 20 ofthe housing by means of the bracket assembly 76. The switch actuatingplate member 7@ is therefore connected to the hinge pin '74 by means ofthe fastener elements 78 so as to pivotally mount the plate member 7-0about the axis defined by the hinge pin 74. The plate member 70 is alsourged to one position by means of a spring element Sll mounted on a pin$2 fixed to the plate member 70 and extending through an aperture 254 ina fixed non-conductive base post $6 also mounted within the housing bymeans of the fixed bracket assembly 76. The fixed base post 536 alsoincludes a cutout portion 538 that straddles the shaft portion 28. Apair of conductive contact members as are therefore mounted on the basepost 86 on opposite sides of the shaft to which electrical conductors 92are connected extending out of the side wall 14 of the housing 12. Thefixed conductive contact members 99 are therefore adapted to be engagedby movable contact elements 94 that are yieldably mounted on the movableswitch plate 70. Accordingly, the movable contact elements 94 have pins)6 connected thereto and slidably received by the movable switch platemember 7ft so as to mount spring elements 94 reacting between the switchplate iii and the movable contact elements 94. Accordingly, when themovable switch plate ill is engaged by the bumped member 66 upon axialdisplacement of the annular member at, the movable contact members W:will be urged into yieldable contact with the fixed contact members 90in order to close the switch. It will also be appreciated, that axialdisplacement of the annular member d4 will depend upon the rotationalspeed of the shaft assembly 24 regulated by the compression of thespring 38 through adjustable setting of the screw element Ashereinbefore indicated, the annular member 64 is restricted bothrotationally and axially. Accordingly, the annular member 64 includes aplurality of circurnf rentially spaced slots 98, ltltl and 102 as moreclearly seen in FIGURES 2 and 3. Any one of these slots, may be engagedby a limit member ltl i mounted at the upper end of adjustable member 1%that is fixed to the base 28 of the housing. The foot portion 1% of theadjustable member 1% is therefore provided with a slot lltl so that itmay be adjustably fastened ot the base 256 through the fastener element112. As illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3, the limit member MM is engagedwithin the axial slot so as to prevent rotation of the annular member 64but without restricting axial movement thereof. Accordingly, rotationalmovement of the shaft member 24 in either rotational direction wouldcause axial shifting of the annular bearing member 64 in order to engageand displace the movable switch contact assembly 63. The switch willthereby close in response to rotation of the shaft assembly in eitherdirection. When however, the limit member 1% is axially adjusted to afixed position on the base member 24 as depicted in the center diagramof FIGURE 5, and the annular member as rotationally positioned so thatthe limit member 1% engages the direction sensing slot 1% thereof,rotational movement of the annular member 64 in the direction indicatedby the arrow H4 in PEGURE 5 would permit the offset portion 116 of theslot 1% to be displaced by rotation of the annular member 64 by alimited amount so that axial displacement of the annular member 64 inthe direction of arrow 118 will be prevented. Accordingly, rotation ofthe shaft member in the direction or arrow 114, will be sensed by theportion 116 of slot 1% to prevent closing of the switch contacts sincethe limit member 104 will then prevent axial displacement of the annularbearing member 64. Readjustment of the adjustable member 1% so as toposition the limit member 104 within another direction sensing slot N2of the annular bearing member 64 to similarly prevent operation of theswitch assembly upon rotation of the shaft member 24 in the direction ofarrow 12%. Accordingly, the slot 1632 includes an offset portion 122disposed in the rotational direction opposite to that of the offsetportion 116 of the slot 1%. It will therefore be appreciated, thatthrough the sliding adjustment of the adjustable member lltld androtational displacement of the annular bearing member 64 so as to havethe limit member 164 engage any one of the slots 98, 1% and the switchassembly may be conditioned for operation either in both directions ofrotation or in one or the other direction of rotation.

From the foregoing description, operation and utility of the switchassem -ly of the present invention will be apparent. It will thereforebe appre iated, that the switch assembly of the present invention may bereadily adjusted tl rough operation response to any desired speed and inresponse to any desired direction of rotation as well. Furthermore, theswitch assembly by virtue of its novel construction is and reliablyoperative with minimum of repairs and with reduced Wearing of the partsbecause of the yieldable engagement between the switch contact elementsthe enclosure of the regulating spring within th rotatable shaft forengagement of the slidably mounted speed sensing element.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown anddescribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalentsmay be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention asclaimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A speed responsive switch assembly comprising, housing means, shaftmeans rotatably mounted in the housing means, displaceable speed sensingmeans slidably mounted by said shaft means, means mounted by the shaftmeans and engageable with the speed sensing means for yieldably biasingthereof to one position on the shaft means, bearing means rotatablymounted on the shaft means and connected to said speed sensing means foraxial displacement along said shaft means, switch contact means movablymounted by the housing means for engagement by the bearing means, andlimit means including interengaging structure on said housing means andthe bearing means for preventing displacement of the switch contactmeans by the bearing means in response to one selected direction ofrotation of the shaft means.

2. A speed responsive switch assembly comprising, housing means, shaftmeans rotatably mounted in the housing means, displaceable speed sensingmeans slidably mounted by said shaft means, means mounted by the shaftmeans and engageable with the speed sensing means for yieldably biasingthereof to one position on the shaft means, bearing means rotatablymounted on the shaft means and connected to said sp ed sensing means foraxial displacement along said shaft means, switch contact means movablymounted by the housing means in operative relation to the shaft meansfor engagement by the bearing means, and limit means includinginterengaging structure on said housing means and the bearing means forpreventing displacement of the switch contact means by the bearing meansin response to one selected direction of rotation of the shaft means,Said bearing means comprising an axial movable sleeve connected to saidspeed sensing means and rotatable therewith, an outer annular memberrotatably mounted on said sleeve and rendered non-rotatable by saidlimit means, and yieldable bumper means slidably carried on said shaftmeans between said annular member and the switch contact means.

3. The combination of claim 2 wherein said interengaging structure ofthe limit means comprises, axial slot means mounted on the caring means,and axially adjustable means fixed to the housing means and engageablewith said slot means for directionally limiting rotational and axialmovement of the beaing means.

4. A speed responsive switch assembly comprising, housing means, shaftmeans rotatably mounted in the housing means, displaceable speed sensingmeans slidably mounted within said shaft means and yieldably biased toone position, bearing means rotatably supported on the shaft means andoperatively connected to said speed sensing means for axial displacementalong said shaft means, switch contact means movably mounted by thehousing means for engagement by the bearing means, and adjustable meansoperatively connected to said housing means and bearing means andselectively operative to prevent displacement of the switch contactmeans by the bearing means in response to one direction of rotation ofthe shaft means, said bearing means comprising an axial movable sleeveconnected to said speed sensing means and rotatable therewith, an outerannular member rotatably mounted on said sleeve and renderednon-rotatable by said adjustable means and yieldable bumper meansslidably carried on said shaft means between said annular member and theswitch contact means, said adjustable means comprising, axial slot meansmounted on the bearing means, axially adjustable limit meansnon-rotatively fixed to the housing means and engageable with said slotmeans for limiting rotational and axial movement of the bearing means,said slot means including a plurality of axial slots formed in saidannular member in circumferentially spaced relation to each other, oneof said slots having a portion offset in one rotational direction forengagement by the limit means to prevent axial displacement of theannular member in response to rotational displacement thereof in theother rotational directional by the shaft means.

5. A speed responsive switch assembly comprising, housing means, shaftmeans rotatably mounted in the housing means, displaceable speed sensingmeans slidably mounted within said shaft means and yieldably biased toone position, bearing means rotatably supported on the shaft means andoperatively connected to said speed sensing means for axial displacementalong said shaft means, switch contact means movably mounted by thehousing means for engagement by the bearing means, and adjustable meansoperatively connected to said housing means and bearing means andselectively operative to prevent displacement of the switch contactmeans by the bearing means in response to one direction of rotation ofthe shaft means, said adjustable means comprising, axial slot meansmounted on the bearing means, axially adjustable limit meansnon-rotatively fixed to the housing means and engageable with said slotmeans for limiting rotational and axial movement of the bearing means.

6. A speed responsive switch assembly comprising, a frame, rotatablemeans mounted for rotation by the frame, switch actuating meansoperatively mounted on said rotatable means for axial displacement inresponse to rotation thereof in either direction, switch means mountedby the frame in fixed relation to the rotatable means for engagement bythe switch actuating means in response to said axial displacementthereof, and direction sensing limit means operatively mounted by theframe and engageable with the switch actuating means for preventingaxial displacement thereof in response to limited rotation of therotatable means in one direction only.

7. A speed responsive switch assembly comprising, a frame, rotatablemeans mounted for rotation by the frame, switch actuating meansoperatively mounted on said rotatable means for axial displacement inresponse to rotation thereof in either direction, switch means mountedby the frame in fixed relation to the rotatable means for engagement bythe switch actuating means in response to said axial displacementthereof, and direction sensing limit means for preventing axialdisplacement of the switch actuating means in response to limitedrotation of the rotatable means in one direction, said limit meanscomprising an annular member rotatably mounted on said switch actuatingmeans having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots therein, oneof said slots having a portion offset in one rotational direction andmeans fixed to the frame for projection into said slots to prevent axialdisplacement of the annular member in response to rotationaldisplacement thereof in the other rotational direction by the rotatablemeans.

8. The combination of claim 1 wherein said interengaging structure ofthe limit means comprises, a plurality of spaced direction sensing slotsformed on said bearing means, a limit member received in one of saidslots and means for mounting the limit member in fixedly adjustedposition on the housing means to sense said one selected direction ofrotation.

9. A speed responsive switch device comprising a frame, a memberrotatably mounted by the frame, speed sensing means displaceably mountedby the rotatably mounted member, switch actuating means movably mountedby the frame and engageable by the speed sensing means for displacementrelative to the frame, a switch element mounted by the frame forengagement by the switch actuating means, limit means fixedly mounted bythe frame in a plurality of selected positions, and directional sensingmeans mounted on the switch actuating means in engagement with the limitmeans to prevent displacement of the switch actuating means in responseto limited rotation of said member in one direction only.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,691,668 11/28Ohmer 200 2,083,411 6/37 Swanson 20080 2,418,373 4/47 Spaller 2008O2,598,440 5/52 Reek 20080 FOREIGN PATENTS 619,313 5/61 Canada. 701,5191/41 Germany.

BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Examiner.

1. A SPEED RESPONSIVE SWITCH ASSEMBLY COMPRISING, HOUSING MEANS, SHAFTMEANS ROTATABLY MOUNTED IN THE HOUSING MEANS, DISPLACEABLE SPEED SENSINGMEANS SLIDABLY MOUNTED BY SAID SHAFT MEANS, MEANS MOUNTED BY THE SHAFTMEANS AND ENGAGEABLE WITH THE SPEED SENSING MEANS FOR YIELDABLY BIASINGTHEREOF TO ONE POSITION ON THE SHAFT MEANS, BEARING MEANS ROTATABLYMOUNTED ON THE SHAFT MEANS AND CONNECTED TO SAID SPEED SENSING MEANS FORAXIAL DISPLACEMENT ALONG SAID SHAFT MEANS, SWITCH CONTACT MEANS MOVABLYMOUNTED BY THE HOUSING MEANS FOR ENGAGEMENT BY THE BEARING MEANS, ANDLIMIT MEANS INCLUDING INTERENGAGING STRUCURE ON SAID HOUSING MEANS ANDTHE BEARING MEANS FOR PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT OF THE SWITCH CONTACTMEANS BY THE BEARING MEANS IN RESPONSE TO ONE SELECTED DIRECTION OFROTATION OF THE SHAFT MEANS.